Russian Art Online Auction

May 07, 2009

LOT 120

Lot 120

Arkady Remennik (1928- )

Arkady Remennik (1928- )
Lot 120 Details
Arkady Remennik (1928- ), Russian

RED ARMY OFFICER

Watercolour with scratching out; signed in cyrillics and dated 1962 at the lower right edge. Unframed.
9.25" x 14" — 23.5 x 35.6 cm.

Estimate $400-$600

Realised: $1,260
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Provenance:

Studio of the artist while living in Galitsino with his parents near Moscow since 1932 to circa 1963 when he moved to Moscow; family collection, Toronto

Note:

Remennik’s works were often made while riding on Soviet trains half a century ago. This watercolour and the following 4 lots are studies Arkady made on his daily trip from the village of Galitsino to work in Moscow. Arkady worked on the train spontaneously capturing the likeness and character of the sitter with a scratching tool which he would later colour and further embellish in his studio in Galitsino. The holes, small tears or creases in the sheet were the result of his working technique and self expression. The materials used to create the drawings as in this lot were executed on the verso of a Soviet poster due to the shortage of paper at the time. These faces and the manner in which they were executed were personal expressions not intended for sale however they captured most successfully, like no other artist, the mood of regular people at that time in the Soviet Union. These faces reflect the weight of the time in which they were completed. Remennik’s process of creating his engravings involved the scratching out technique on paper employed in his watercolours. The scratched out design on paper then became the plate from which he printed small editions of approximately three impressions. Due to the nature of the paper plate, the prints in the run showed variations.
These works and the mood of the people they reflect, are of an era that no longer exists and have great historical importance.
Remennik studied under Ely Mikhailovich Bielutin (see lot 119) at Moscow Polograph Institute from 1956-1962. He was a member of the Soviet Union Society of Artists since 1975. Remennik was one of the first Russian artists to join Bielutin’s studio called “New Reality” (Novaya Realnost).

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 120
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.